Batman

21 movies in this series

The Dark Knight has been reinvented for every generation, but Gotham's stories don't belong to Batman alone.

In this definitive Now Playing Podcast retrospective, we review Batman's big-screen adventures across every cinematic era. From Adam West's campy Caped Crusader to the gothic vision of Tim Burton, the neon spectacle of Joel Schumacher, Christopher Nolan's grounded trilogy, Ben Affleck's battle-hardened Batman, Robert Pattinson's detective-driven take, and every theatrical adventure in between, we also venture into Gotham's cinematic side streets with films like Catwoman, Joker, and Mask of the Phantasm. As new Batman and Gotham films arrive, we'll keep the Bat-Signal lit, exploring every new chapter to determine which heroes and villains truly deserve a place in Batman's legacy.

Movie Reviews

Legends of the Super Heroes

The movie Now Playing Podcast was never meant to review!

Reviewed Feb 23, 2016
The adventures of many of DC Comics greatest superheroes and villains. In the first episode, "The Challenge," the superheroes must race against time to stop the diabolical super-villains' plot to destroy the world. In the second episode, "The Roast," the superheroes pay tribute to Batman and Robin in the form of a roast which even the villains attend. Genres: Action, Comedy, Science Fiction
Now Playing Approved

Batman

I have given a name to my podcast, and it is Now Playing

Reviewed May 22, 2012
Having witnessed his parents' brutal murder as a child, millionaire philanthropist Bruce Wayne fights crime in Gotham City disguised as Batman, a costumed hero who strikes fear into the hearts of villains. But when a deformed madman known as 'The Joker' seizes control of Gotham's criminal underworld, Batman must face his most ruthless nemesis ever while protecting both his identity and his love interest, reporter Vicki Vale. Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy

Batman Returns

Batman Returned this summer Christmas gift, can I?

Reviewed May 29, 2012
The monstrous Penguin, who dwells in the sewers beneath Gotham, joins up with corrupt mayoral candidate Max Shreck to topple the Batman once and for all. But when Shreck's timid assistant Selina Kyle finds out, and Shreck tries to kill her, she's transformed into the sexy Catwoman. She teams up with the Penguin and Shreck to destroy Batman, but sparks fly unexpectedly when she confronts the caped crusader. Genres: Action, Fantasy

Batman Forever

Podcast-gasm!

Reviewed Jun 5, 2012
Batman faces off against two foes: the schizophrenic, horribly scarred former District Attorney Harvey Dent, aka Two-Face, and the Riddler, a disgruntled ex-Wayne Enterprises inventor seeking revenge against his former employer by unleashing his brain-sucking weapon on Gotham City's residents. As the caped crusader also copes with tortured memories of his parents' murder, he has a new romance, with psychologist Chase Meridian. Genres: Action, Crime, Fantasy
Staff Pick

The Dark Knight

From Katie Holmes to Maggie Gyllenhaal. That’s not a re...

Reviewed Jul 21, 2008
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker. Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
Now Playing Approved Staff Pick

The Dark Knight

Can the Dark Knight rise as high again?

Reviewed Jul 17, 2012
Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lt. Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the streets. The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as the Joker. Genres: Action, Crime, Thriller
Now Playing Approved

The Dark Knight Rises

Let the games begin! You have our permission to listen.

Reviewed Jul 23, 2012
Following the death of District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman assumes responsibility for Dent's crimes to protect the late attorney's reputation and is subsequently hunted by the Gotham City Police Department. Eight years later, Batman encounters the mysterious Selina Kyle and the villainous Bane, a new terrorist leader who overwhelms Gotham's finest. The Dark Knight resurfaces to protect a city that has branded him an enemy. Genres: Action, Crime, Drama, Thriller

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice

Tell me....do you listen? You will.

Reviewed Mar 29, 2016
Fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before. Genres: Action, Adventure, Fantasy